shared space

July 8, 2015 - Lord Holmes of Richmond has published detailed research into “shared space” schemes in England. Holmes refers to shared space schemes as 'architectural conceit, the planning folly, which proposes that the removal of kerbs, road markings, controlled crossings such as zebras and pelicans and so on leads to a better experience for all users of our streets. more >

Multiple Centrality Assessment, Complete Streets: More Than a New Design, A Suburb is not a Tree, Design A Good Street and You Design a Good City, Liveable Arterials in Auckland City, Re-Thinking Berlin’s Radial Streets, Reshaping the American Commercial Strip, Bradford: Complex Streets, Complex Societies, High Street 2012: Celebrating a Great
London High Street

Malcolm Bulpitt, now semi-retired after having been involved in the design and implementation of major traffic schemes for 45 years, casts a critical eye over the shared space scheme in Exhibition Road, London

Says Chris Robertson, Knutsford, Cheshire, writing in LTT: 'Thank goodness for the review of Shared Space by Simon Moody and Steve Melia, reported in the last issue (“Shared space guidance ‘flawed’ and Ashford scheme disliked, says study” LTT 02 Dec). As a transport planner with a lifelong interest in the public realm, I have followed the ascent of ‘Shared Space’ positively and with only a prudent degree of scepticism as to how and whether the claimed benefits are realised'...

'Better Streets: What Really Works?’ sought to answer this question through an honest analysis of both whole schemes and specific issues, all within a context set by an assessment of what a ‘Better Street’ consists of. Flush surfaces, uncluttered desire lines, safe space, expensive materials and such should be understood clearly as catalysts for enabling people to use and enjoy streets better, not as ends in their own right, says John Dales

December 5, 2011 - The DfT’s new guidance on shared space street environments, the Shared Space Local Transport Note, is based on flawed research and makes exaggerated claims about the benefits of the design, according to academics. They add that the flagship Ashford shared space scheme in Kent is actually disliked by many local people. more >

August 18, 2011 - According to RUDI's partner organisation TransportXtra, the level of road accidents and casualties have increased at locations where Transport for London has removed guardrailing. But TfL is adamant that the data has not been collected over a long enough period to be truly representative. more >

Five years ago in Ashford, Kent, an innovative public realm and traffic management scheme was set in motion.
In late summer 2010, as the scheme ‘beds down’, lead designer Whitelaw Turkington revisits the project to celebrate successes and consider the practical lessons learned. By Juliana O’Rourke

A great opportunity and the will to go beyond custom, practice and precedent – a new shared space scheme in Bristol shows that creative planning and effective risk management can result in the making of a popular and accessible public space.

Whilst working on traffic management plans for the Cabot Circus area in Bristol, my colleagues and I realised that we had the potential to turn a complex, messy area of small service roads, clogged with through traffic, from a challenge into a great opportunity: the creation of an attractive new public space, park and walking and cycling routes. Tucked in behind a hotel development close to the new Cabot Circus retail complex in Bristol city centre, the historic, but little-used, St Matthias park had been bisected in Victorian times by St Matthias Park Road, and subsequently cut off from the inner city by the post-war inner circuit road.